Page 25
Story: Taylor (Glendale Magic #3)
24
Alice
A lice was walking into the Magic Center to meet Sasha. The team was back from a short road trip, and Sasha had called her and asked if she could come in and meet about a job on the team’s social media team. Alice had been mortified at her mother’s meddling, but it might be nice being a part of the organization. It also meant her mom and dad could check up on her... which was her mother’s motivation. Her mom was just hoping to get her a different job. She didn’t know that Alice had been fired from her job before Thanksgiving. Which also meant money was running out. Part of her New Year, New You was not going to Mommy and Daddy and asking for more money... once again.
“Alice?” a familiar voice said behind her. “What are you doing here?”
Her dad was behind her with a curious smile.
“Did Mom not tell you?”
He shook his head.
“I have a meeting with Sasha. Mom mentioned to her at the party that I had social media experience... Apparently, she’s looking to hire someone.”
A genuine smile crept across his face. “Oh, well, that’s a great idea. I’d love to have you here, get to see you a little more. I feel like I’ve hardly seen you in months.”
Alice smiled, thinking, Yeah, by design . She had been hiding. But it was time to stop hiding, New Year, New You, she reminded herself once again.
“I have to run, sweetheart. But, hopefully, I’ll be seeing you around.”
As she made her way through the hallway, anxiety made her heart race. Not because of her appointment with Sasha but because of Taylor. By then, she was in the hallway of offices on the other side of the building from the ice and the work out rooms, so the odds of running into him were small... small but not zero. He’s just a guy ... she reminded herself. He’s just a guy who showed you attention, and you made up a whole ass love story about it . . .
“Alice.”
She jumped at her name.
“I’m sorry if I startled you.”
She turned to see Sasha.
This woman was a queen. While she wasn’t quite as glamorous as she had been the night of the gala or New Year’s Eve party, she was so polished and put together. From her black red-bottom heels to her shimmery gold tank covered by a blazer, her fashion was on point. Even though she was plus size like Alice, she carried herself with all the confidence in the world. And of course, she did. She was beautiful. Her dark-brown hair fell in waves around her dark eyes with the pop of a red lip. While there had been unkind internet opinions questioning what Conner saw in her, if they ever met her in person, they wouldn’t question it.
“My office is two doors down on the left.”
They made their way down the hallway full of the team’s colors, with purple-and-teal splashes. At least the Magic had good color choices , she thought.
A team picture hung on the wall, and as much as she didn’t want them to, her eyes searched for Taylor. When she saw him, it was almost enough to take her breath away. Being too sensitive and falling too fast was something about herself she desperately wanted to change, but she was afraid that it might just be how she was.
“Right in here,” Sasha said, opening the door.
Alice entered Sasha’s office, which was just as stylish as she was. The walls were a soft gray with a Magic purple accent wall. On the desk were pictures of her family and of her and Conner.
“Have a seat,” Sasha said, pointing to the chair across from the desk. “So, I’ve had a chance to look over the work you sent over. You have a really good eye for design.”
This was starting to feel more like a job interview.
“Thank you. I do have art experience,” she said, enjoying the small burst of pride.
“And you have worked in social media?”
“Yeah, I used to work for St. James Realty. I would edit videos and post about the houses.”
“Really? Did you like it?”
Did she like it? It was tolerable but also pretty boring.
“I did,” she said with a serene smile.
“Why did you leave?”
“I was looking for something with a little more creativity.”
And Mitch St. James is a douchebag... and I started missing deadlines because I started making earrings .
“Are you interested in doing that work again?”
Not really.
“Yeah, I would love to get back to it.”
“Peyton and I can handle most of it, but we are just looking for help in some of the videos and post moderation. But we’re a team, so Monday mornings, we have team meetings here or online if we are on the road to figure out what’s working and hear ideas. If you are interested, please share ideas. But right now, we are really looking for someone to take some of the editing and scheduling of posts off our hands.”
“Oh, yeah, I could do that.”
“Okay, I know we are skipping some steps here, but I could really use some help tonight if you’re interested.”
“Oh, yeah. That sounds good.”
This was all getting away from her. She wasn’t even sure if she wanted this job, but it was a job, and she was qualified.
“Tonight, I’m looking for someone to sit in the press box and post videos and pictures. So, like, I’ll send you video from the suit cam and goals and that stuff. You just have to pop them into the premade posts and get them up. Do you think you can do that?”
“Yeah, I can totally do that.”
Sasha sat back in her chair and sighed. “You’re a lifesaver, Alice. I’ve been doing both that job and my own since Thanksgiving. Let’s go talk to Hillary and get you all set up with everything you’ll need.”
Around lunch time, Alice was leaving the Magic Center with a press badge and a whole packet of information. It was a whirlwind, but at least she had a job. Her mother’s uncanny knack for knowing just when to call struck again when she got in her car. She had just pulled out of the parking lot when a call came through the line.
She tapped the button on her steering wheel. “Hi, Mom.”
“Your dad told me he saw you at the center today. Were you meeting with Sasha?”
Alice sighed. “Yep.”
There was a long pause.
“And?”
“I’m going to be helping out with social media for a while,” she said softly.
“Oh, Alice. That’s wonderful.”
“Yeah... it should work out pretty good. I’m driving home, Mom. I’m going to let you go.”
After she hung up with her mom, the spiral continued. She should’ve been happy with this new job, but she couldn’t help but feel the nepotism. Yes, she was qualified for the job, and Sasha needed the help. But because her mom had gotten her the job, it felt a little tainted.
There was also the Taylor of it all. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him forever if she worked with the organization.
How had she been so wrong about that? It still boggled her mind. She had been so sure he felt something for her, but he had vanished.
When she got home, she had gotten ready for the game and drove to the arena. Before she got out of the car, she pulled down her visor to check her makeup in the mirror. She looked perfectly fine, her blonde hair pulled into a pony, black pants and a gray blazer...
She looked fine.
“You can do this,” she said to herself. “New Year, New You.”
She snapped the visor back up and got everything ready, bracing for the cold. She could do this, the mental reminder playing in her head as she made her way into the building.
Table of Contents
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- Page 25 (Reading here)
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